A Set of Rogues Namely Christopher Sutton, John Dawson, the Señor Don Sanchez Del Castillo De Castelaña and Moll Dawson; Their Wicked Conspiracy, and a True Account of Their Travels and Adventures

A Set of Rogues

A Set of Rogues: Their Wicked Conspiracy and a True Account of Their Travels and Adventures (Classic Reprint)

A Set of Rogues by Frank Barrett (World Cultural Heritage Library)

A Set Of Rogues by Barrett, Frank published by Kessinger Publishing, LLC (2010) [Paperback]

A Set of Rogues

A Set of Rogues: Their Wicked Conspiracy (A True Pirate Story)

[a Set of Rogues, Etc.]

A Set Of Rogues: To Wit: Christopher Sutton, John Dawson, The Señor Don Sanchez Del Castillo De Castelaña And Moll Dawson

A Set of Rogues, Etc.

think you, Senor, ere we can quit this palace and get to one of thoseposadas you promised us?"

Don Sanchez hunched his shoulders for all reply and turned away to hidehis mortification. And now a girl comes up with a biggin of water on herhead, a broken comb in her hand, and a ragged cloth on her arm thatlooked as if it had never been washed since it left the loom, and setsthem down on a bench, with a grin at Moll; but she, though notover-nice, turns away with a pout of disgust, and then we to get abreath of fresh air to a hole in the wall on the windward side, where westand all dumb with disappointment and dread until we are called down todinner. But before going down Don Sanchez warns us to stand on our bestbehaviour, as these Spaniards, for all their rude seeming, were of aparticularly punctilious, ticklish disposition, and that we might comebadly out of this business if we happened to displease them.

"I cannot see reason in that, Senor," says Dawson; "for the less weplease 'em, the sooner they are likely to send us hence, and so thebetter for us."

"As you please," replies the Don, "but my warning is to your advantage."

Down we go, and there stands Don Lopez with a dozen choice friends, allthe raggedest, dirty villains in the world; and they saluting us, wereturn their civility with a very fair pretence and take the seatsoffered us--they standing until we are set. Then they sit down, and eachman lugs out a knife from his waist-cloth. The cauldron, filled with amess of kid stewed in a multitude of onions, is fetched from the fire,and, being set upon a smooth board, is slid down the table to our host,who, after picking out some titbits for us, serves himself, and soslides it back, each man in turn picking out a morsel on the end of hisknife. Bearing in mind Don Sanchez's warning, we do our best to eat ofthis dish; but, Heaven knows! with little relish, and mighty glad whenthe cauldron is empty and that part of the performance ended. Then thebones being swept from the table, a huge skin of wine is set before DonLopez, and he serves us each with about a quart in an odd-shaped vesselwith a spout, which Don Sanchez and his countrymen use by holding itabove their heads and letting the wine spurt into their mouths; but we,being unused to this fashion, preferred rather to suck it out of thespout, which seemed to them as odd a mode as theirs was to us. However,better wine, drink it how you may, there is none than the wine of theseparts, and this reconciling us considerably to our condition, welistened with content to their singing of ditties, which they did verywell for such rude fellows, to the music of a guitar and a tambourine.And so when our pots came to be replenished a second time, we were allmighty merry and agreeable save Jack Dawson, who never could take hisliquor like any other man, but must fall into some extravagant humour,and he, I perceived, regarded some of the company with a very sour,jealous eye because, being warmed with drink, they fell to castingglances at Moll with a certain degree of familiarity. Especially therewas one fellow with a hook nose, who stirred his bile exceedingly,sitting with his elbows on the table and his jaws in his hands, andwould scarcely shift his eyes from Moll. And since he could not make hisdispleasure understood in words, and so give vent to it and be done,Jack sat there in sullen silence watching for an opportunity to show hisresentment in some other fashion. The other saw this well enough, butwould not desist, and so these two sat fronting each other like two dogsready to fly at each other's throats. At length, the hook-nosed rascal,growing bolder with his liquor, rises as if to reach for his wine pot,and stretching across the table, chucks Moll under the chin with hisgrimy fingers. At this Jack flinging out his great fist with all theforce of contained passion, catches the other right in the middle of theface, with such effect that the fellow flies clean back over his bench,his head striking the pavement with a crash. Then, in an instant, allhis fellows spring to their feet, and a dozen long knives flash out fromtheir sheaths.

CHAPTER IX.

_Of the manner in which we escaped pretty fairly out of the hands ofSenor Don Lopez and his brigands._

Up starts Jack Dawson, catching Moll by the arm and his joint stool bythe leg, and stepping back a pace or two not to be taken in the flank,he swings his stool ready to dash the brains out of the first that nearshim. And I do likewise, making the same show of valour with my stool,but cutting a poor figure beside Dawson's mighty presence.

Seeing their fellow laid out for dead on the floor, with his hook nosesmashed most horridly into his face, the others had no stomach to meetthe same fate, but with their Spanish cunning began to spread out thatso they might attack us on all sides; and surely this had done ourbusiness but that Don Lopez, flinging himself before us with his kniferaised high, cries out at the top of his voice, "Rekbah!"--a word oftheir own language, I am told, taken from the Moorish, and signifyingthat whosoever shall outrage the laws of hospitality under his roofshall be his enemy to the death. And at this word every man stood stillas if by inchantment, and let fall his weapon. Then in the same highvoice he gives them an harangue, showing them that Dawson was in theright to avenge an insult offered his daughter, and the other justlyserved for his offence to us. "For his offence to me as the host ofthese strangers," adds he, "Jose shall answer to me hereafter if helive; if he be dead, his body shall be flung to the vultures of thegorge, and his name be never uttered again beneath this roof."

"I bear no grudges, not I," says Dawson, when Don Sanchez gave him theEnglish of this. "If he live, let his nose be set; and if dead, let himbe buried decently in a churchyard. But hark ye, Senor, lest we fall outagain and come out worse the next bout, do pray ask his worship if wemay not be accommodated with a guide to take us on our way at once. Wehave yet two hours of daylight before us, there's not a cloud in thesky, and with such a moon as we had the night before last, we may get onwell enough."

Poor Moll, who was all of a shake with the terror of anothercatastrophe, added her prayers to Dawson's, and Don Sanchez with aprofusion of civilities laid the proposal before Don Lopez, who, thoughprofessing the utmost regret to lose us so soon, consented to gratifyour wish, adding that his mules were so well accustomed to the road thatthey could make the journey as well in the dark as in broad day.

"Well, then," says Dawson, when this was told us, "let us settle thebusiness at once, and be off."

And now, when Don Sanchez proposed to pay for the service of our guides,it was curious to see how every rascal at the table craned forward towatch the upshot. Don Lopez makes a pretence of leaving the payment toDon Sanchez's generosity; and he, not behindhand in courtesy, lugs outhis purse and begs the other to pay himself. Whereupon, with moreapologies, Don Lopez empties the money on the table and carefully countsit, and there being but about a score of gold pieces and some silver, heshakes his head and says a few words to Don Sanchez in a veryreproachful tone of remonstrance, to which our Don replies by turningall the trifles out of his pocket, one after the other, to prove that hehas no money.

The company, seeing there was no more to be got out of Don Sanchez,began to murmur and cast their eyes at us; whereupon Dawson, seeing howthe land lay, stands up and empties his pockets on the table, and Ilikewise; but betwixt us there was no more than some French pennies anda few odds and ends of no value at all. Fetching a deep sigh, Don Lopeztakes all these possessions into a heap before him, and tells DonSanchez that he cannot believe persons of our quality could travel withso little, that he feels convinced Don Sanchez must have dropped a purseon the way, and that until it is found he can on no account allow us toleave the neighbourhood.

"This comes of being so mighty fine!" says Dawson, when Don Sanchez hadexplained matters. "Had we travelled as became our condition, thisbrigand would never have ensnared us hither. And if they won't believeyour story, Senor, I can't blame 'em; for I would have sworn you had athousand pounds to your hand."

"Do you reproach me for my generosity?" asks the Don.

"Nay, Master, I love you for being free with your money while you haveit, but 'tis a queer kind of generosity to bring us into these partswith no means of taking us back again. Hows'ever, we'll say no moreabout that if we get out of this cursed smoke-hole; and as we are liketo come off ill if these Jack-thieves keep us here a week or so and getnothing by it, 'twill be best to tell 'em the honest truth, and acquaintthem that we are no gentle folk, but only three poor English mountebanksbrought hither on a wild goose chase."

This was a bitter pill for Don Sanchez to swallow; however, seeing noother cure for our ills, he gulped it down with the best face he couldput on it. But from the mockery and laughter of all who heard him, 'twasplain to see they would not believe a word of his story.

"What would you have me do now?" asks the Don, turning to us when theclamour had subsided, and he told us how he had tried to persuade themwe were dancers he was taking for a show to the fair at Barcelona, whichthey, by our looks, would not believe, and especially that a man of suchbuild as Jack Dawson could foot it, even to please such heavy people asthe English.

"What!" cries Jack. "I can't dance! We will pretty soon put them toanother complexion if they do but give us space and a fair trial. Youcan strum a guitar, Kit, for I've heard you. And Moll, my chick, do youdash the tears from your cheek and pluck up courage to show thesePortugals what an English lass can do."

The brigands agreeing to this trial, the table is shoved back to give usa space in the best light, and our judges seat themselves conveniently.Moll brushes her eyes (to a little murmur of sympathy, as I thought),and I, striking out the tune, Jack, with all the magnificence of a king,takes her hand and leads her out to a French pavan; and sure no one inthe world ever stepped it more gracefully than our poor little Moll (nowput upon her mettle), nor more lightly than Dawson, so that every rascalin our audience was won to admiration, clapping hands and shouting"Hola!" when it was done. And this warming us, we gave 'em next anItalian coranto, and after that, an English pillow dance; and, in goodfaith, had they all been our dearest friends, these dirty fellows couldnot have gone more mad with delight. And then Moll and her fathersitting down to fetch their breath, a dispute arose among the brigandswhich we were at a loss to understand, until Don Sanchez explained thata certain number would have it we were real dancers, but that anotherparty, with Don Lopez, maintained these were but court dances, whichonly proved the more we were of high quality to be thus accomplished.

"We'll convince 'em yet, Moll, with a pox of their doubts," criesDawson, starting to his feet again. "Tell 'em we will give 'em a stagedance of a nymph and a wild man, Senor, with an excuse for our having nocostume but this. Play us our pastoral, Kit. And sing you your ditty of'Broken Heart,' Moll, in the right place, that I may get my wind for thelast caper."

Moll nods, and with ready wit takes the ribbon from her head, lettingher pretty hair tumble all about her shoulders, and then whipping up herlong skirt, tucks one end under her girdle, thereby making a very daintyshow of pink lining against the dark stuff, and also giving more playfor her feet. And so thus they dance their pastoral, Don Sanchez takinga tambourine and tapping it lightly to the measure, up to Moll's song,which so ravished these hardy, stony men by the pathetic sweetness ofher voice,--for they could understand nothing save by herexpression,--that they would not let the dance go on until she had sungit through again. To conclude, Jack springs up as one enamoured tomadness and flings out his last steps with such vigour and agility as toquite astound all.

[Illustration: "MOLL AND HER FATHER DANCE A PASTORAL."]

And now the show being ended, and not one but is a-crying of "Hola!" and"Animo!" Moll snatches the tambourine from Don Sanchez's hand, andstepping before Don Lopez drops him a curtsey, and offers it for herreward. At this Don Lopez, glancing at the money on the table by hisside, and looking round for sanction to his company (which they did givehim without one voice of opposition), he takes up two of the gold piecesand drops them on the parchment. Thus did our Moll, by one clever hit,draw an acknowledgment from them that we were indeed no fine folks, butmere players, which point they might have stumbled over in their coolermoments.

But we were not quit yet; for on Don Sanchez's begging that we shouldnow be set upon our road to Ravellos, the other replies that though hewill do us this service with great pleasure, yet he cannot permit us toencounter the danger again of being taken for persons of quality. "Finedress," says he, "may be necessary to the Senor and his daughter fortheir court dances, and they are heartily welcome to them for thepleasure they have given us, but for you and the musician who plays butindifferent well, meaner garb is more suitable; and so you will be goodenough to step upstairs, the pair of you, and change your clothing forsuch as we can furnish from our store."

And upstairs we were forced to go, Don Sanchez and I, and there beingstripped we were given such dirty foul rags and so grotesque, that whenwe came down, Jack Dawson and Moll fell a-laughing at us, as though theywould burst. And, in truth, we made a most ludicrous spectacle,--especially the Don, whom hitherto we had seen only in theneatest and most noble of clothes,--looking more like a couple ofscarecrows than living men.

Don Sanchez neither smiled nor frowned at this treatment, taking thismisfortune with the resignation of a philosopher; only to quiet Dawson'smerriment he told him that in the clothes taken from him was sewed up abond for two hundred pounds, but whether this was true or not I cannottell.

And now, to bring an end to this adventure, we were taken down theintricate passes of the mountain in the moonlight, as many of the gangas could find mules coming with us for escort, and brought at last tothe main road, where we were left with nought but what we stood in (saveMoll's two pieces), the robbers bidding us their adios with all thecourtesy imaginable. But even then, robbed of all he had even to theclothes of his back, Don Sanchez's pride was unshaken, for he bade usnote that the very thieves in Spain were gentlemen.

As we trudged along the road toward Ravellos, we fell debating on ourcase, as what we should do next, etc., Don Sanchez promising that weshould have redress for our ill-treatment, that his name alone wouldprocure us a supply of money for our requirements, etc., to my greatcontent. But Dawson was of another mind.

"As for seeking redress," says he, "I would as soon kick at a hive forbeing stung by a bee, and the wisest course when you've been once bit bya dog is to keep out of his way for the future. With respect of gettingmoney by your honour's name, you may do as you please, and so may you,Kit, if you're so minded. But for my part, henceforth I'll pretend to beno better than I am, and the first suit of rags I can get will I wear inthe fashion of this country. And so shall you, Moll, my dear; so make upyour mind to lay aside your fine airs and hold up your nose no longer asif you were too good for your father."

"Why, surely, Jack," says I, "you would not quit us and go from yourbargain."

"Not I, and you should know me well enough, Kit, to have no doubt onthat score. But 'tis no part of our bargain that we should bustleanybody but Simon the steward."

"We have four hundred miles to go ere we reach Elche," says Don Sanchez."Can you tell me how we are to get there without money?"

"Aye, that I can, and I warrant my plan as good as your honour's. Howmany tens are there in four hundred, Kit?"

"Forty."

"Well, we can walk ten miles a day on level ground, and so may do thisjourney in six weeks or thereabouts, which is no such great matter,seeing we are not to be back in England afore next year. We can buy aguitar and a tabor out of Moll's pieces; with them we can give a showwherever we stay for the night, and if honest men do but pay us half asmuch as the thieves of this country, we may fare pretty well."

"I confess," says Don Sanchez, "your scheme is the best, and I wouldmyself have proposed it but that I can do so little for my share."

"Why, what odds does that make, Senor?" cries Jack. "You gave us of thebest while you had aught to give, and 'tis but fair we should do thesame now. Besides which, how could we get along without you for aspokesman, and I marked that you drummed to our dance very tunefully.Come, is it a bargain, friend?"

And on Don Sanchez's consenting, Jack would have us all shake hands onit for a sign of faith and good fellowship. Then, perceiving that wewere arrived at the outskirts of the town, we ended our discussion.

CHAPTER X.

_Of our merry journeying to Alicante._

We turned into the first posada we came to--a poor, mean sort of an innand general shop, to be sure, but we were in no condition to cavil abouttrifles, being fagged out with our journey and the adventures of theday, and only too happy to find a house of entertainment still open. Soafter a dish of sausages with very good wine, we to our beds and an endto the torment of fleas I had endured from the moment I changed myFrench habit for Spanish rags.

The next morning, when we had eaten a meal of goats' milk and bread andpaid our reckoning, which amounted to a few rials and no more, DonSanchez and I, taking what rested of Moll's two pieces, went forth intothe town and there bought two plain suits of clothes for ourselves inthe mode of the country, and (according to his desire) another of thesame cut for Dawson, together with a little jacket and petticoat forMoll. And these expenditures left us but just enough to buy a goodguitar and a tambourine--indeed, we should not have got them at all butthat Don Sanchez higgled and bargained like any Jew, which he could dowith a very good face now that he was dressed so beggarly. Then back toour posada, where in our room Jack and I were mighty merry in putting onour new clothes; but going below we find Moll still dressed in herfinery, and sulking before the petticoat and jacket we had bought forher, which she would not put on by any persuasion until her father fellinto a passion of anger. And the sight of him fuming in a short jacketbarely covering his loins, and a pair of breeches so tight the seamswould scarce hold together, so tickled her sense of humour that she fellinto a long fit of laughter, and this ending her sulks she went upstairswith a good grace and returned in her hated petticoat, carrying her finedress in a bundle. But I never yet knew the time when this sly baggagewould not please herself for all her seeming yielding to others, and wewere yet to have more pain from her than she from us in respect of thatskirt. For ere we had got half way through the town she, dawdling behindto look first in this shop and then in that, gave us the slip, so thatwe were best part of an hour hunting the streets up and down in theutmost anxiety. Then as we were sweating with our exercise and trouble,lo! she steps out of a shop as calm as you please in a petticoat andjacket of her own fancy (and ten times more handsome than our purchase),a red shawl tied about her waist, and a little round hat with a brightred bob in it, set on one side of her head, and all as smart as acarrot.

"Da!" says she, "where have you been running all this time?"

And we, betwixt joy at finding her and anger at her impudence, could saynothing; and yet we were fain to admire her audacity too. But how, notknowing one word of the language, she had made her wants known was amystery, and how she had obtained this finery was another, seeing thatwe had spent all there was of her two pieces. Certainly she had notchanged her French gown and things for them, for these in a cumbrousbundle had her father been carrying up and down the town since we lostthe minx.

"If you han't stole 'em," says Dawson, finding his tongue at last,"where did you find the money to pay for those trappings, slut?"

"In my pocket, sir," says she, with a curtsey, "where you might havefound yours had you not emptied it so readily for the robbers yesterday.And I fancy," adds she slyly, "I may still find some left to offer you adinner at midday if you will accept of it."

This hint disposed us to make light of our grievance against her, and wewent out of Ravellos very well satisfied to know that our next mealdepended not solely upon chance. And this, together with the brightsunlight and the sweet invigorating morning air, did beget in us aspirit of happy carelessness, in keeping with the smiling gay aspect ofthe country about us.

It was strange to see how easily Moll fell into our happy-go-luckyhumour, she, who had been as stately as any Roman queen in her longgown, being now, in her short coloured petticoat, as frolicsome andfamiliar as a country wench at a fair; but indeed she was a born actressand could accommodate herself as well to one condition as another withthe mere change of clothes. But I think this state was more to her realtaste than the other, as putting no restraint upon her impulses andgiving free play to her healthy, exuberant mirth. Her very step was akind of dance, and she must needs fall a-carolling of songs like a larkwhen it flies. Then she would have us rehearse our old songs to our newmusic. So, slinging my guitar in front of me, I put it in tune, and Jackties his bundle to his back that he may try his hand at the tambourine.And so we march along singing and playing as if to a feast, and stoppingonly to laugh prodigiously when one or other fell out of tune,--the mostmad, light-hearted fools in the world;--but I speak not of Don Sanchez,who, feel what he might, never relaxed his high bearing or unbent hisserious countenance.

One thing I remember of him on this journey. Having gone about fivemiles, we sat us down on a bridge to rest a while, and there the Donleft us to go a little way up the course of the stream that flowedbeneath, and he came back with a posey of sweet jonquils set off with adelicate kind of fern very pretty, and this he presents to Moll with agracious little speech, which act, it seemed to me, was to let her knowthat he respected her still as a young gentlewoman in spite of her shortpetticoat, and Moll was not dull to the compliment neither; for, afterthe first cry of delight in seeing these natural dainty flowers (sheloving such things beyond all else in the world), she bethought her tomake him a curtsey and reply to his speech with another as good and wellturned, as she set them in her waist scarf. Also I remember on this roadwe saw oranges and lemons growing for the first time, but full a mileafter Moll had first caught their wondrous perfume in the air. And thesetrees, which are about the size of a crab tree, grew in close groves oneither side of the road, with no manner of fence to protect them, sothat any one is lief to pluck what he may without let, so plentiful arethey, and curious to see how fruit and blossom grow together on the samebush, the lemons, as I hear, giving four crops in the year, and moredelicious, full, and juicy than any to be bought in England at six tothe groat.

We got a dinner of bread and cheese (very high) at a roadside house, andglad to have that, only no meat of any kind, but excellent good winewith dried figs and walnuts, which is the natural food of this country,where one may go a week without touching flesh and yet feel as strongand hearty at the end. And here very merry, Jack in his pertinacious,stubborn spirit declaring he would drink his wine in the custom of thecountry or none at all, and so lifting up the spouted mug at arm'slength he squirts the liquor all over his face, down his new clothes andeverywhere but into his mouth, before he could arrive to do it like DonSanchez; but getting into the trick of it, he so mighty proud of hisachievement that he must drink pot after pot until he got as drunk asany lord. So after that, finding a retired place,--it being midday andprodigious hot (though only now in mid-April),--we lay down under theorange trees and slept a long hour, to our great refreshment. Dawson onwaking remembered nothing of his being drunk, and felt not one penny theworse for it. And so on another long stretch through sweet country, withhere and there a glimpse of the Mediterranean, in the distance, of asurprising blueness, before we reached another town, and that on the topof a high hill. But it seems that all the towns in these parts (savethose armed with fortresses) are thus built for security against thepirates, who ravage the seaboard of this continent incessantly from endto end. And for this reason the roads leading up to the town are madevery narrow, tortuous, and difficult, with watch-towers in places, andmany points where a few armed men lying in ambush may overwhelm an enemyten times as strong. The towns themselves are fortified with gates, thestreets extremely narrow and crooked, and the houses massed all togetherwith secret passages one to another, and a network of little alleysleading whither only the inhabitants knew, so that if an enemy do getinto them 'tis ten to one he will never come out alive.

It being market day in this town, here Jack and his daughter gave a showof dancing, first in their French suits, which were vastly admired, andafter in their Spanish clothes; but then they were asked to dance afandango, which they could not. However, we fared very well, getting thevalue of five shillings in little moneys, and the innkeepers would takenothing for our entertainment, because of the custom we had brought hishouse, which we considered very handsome on his part.

We set out again the next morning, but having shown how we passed thefirst day I need not dwell upon those which followed before we reachedBarcelona, there being nothing of any great importance to tell. OnlyMoll was now all agog to learn the Spanish dances, and I cannot easilyforget how, after much coaxing and wheedling on her part, she at lengthpersuaded Don Sanchez to show her a fandango; for, surely, nothing inthe world was ever more comic than this stately Don, without any music,and in the middle of the high road, cutting capers, with a countenanceas solemn as any person at a burying. No one could be more quick toobserve the ludicrous than he, nor more careful to avoid ridicule;therefore it said much for Moll's cajolery, or for the love he bore hereven at this time, to thus expose himself to Dawson's rude mirth andmine in order to please her.

We reached Barcelona the 25th of April, and there we stayed till the 1stof May, for Moll would go no further before she had learnt a bolero anda fandango--which dances we saw danced at a little theatre excellentlywell, but in a style quite different to ours, and the women very fat andplain. And though Moll, being but a slight slip of a lass, in whom thewarmer passions were unbegotten, could not give the bolero thevoluptuous fervour of the Spanish dancers, yet in agility and in prettyinnocent grace she did surpass them all to nought, which was abundantlyproved when she danced it in our posada before a court full ofSpaniards, for there they were like mad over her, casting their silkhandkerchiefs at her feet in homage, and filling Jack's tambourine threetimes over with cigarros and a plentiful scattering of rials. And Ibelieve, had we stayed there, we might have made more money than ever wewanted at that time--though not so much as Don Sanchez had set his mindon; wherefore he would have us jogging again as soon as Moll could bebrought to it.

From Barcelona, we journeyed a month to Valencia, growing more indolentwith our easier circumstances, and sometimes trudging no more than fiveor six miles in a day. And we were, I think, the happiest, idlest set ofvagabonds in existence. But, indeed, in this country there is not thatspur to exertion which is for ever goading us in this. The sun fillsone's heart with content, and for one's other wants a few halfpence aday will suffice, and if you have them not 'tis no such great matter.For these people are exceeding kind and hospitable; they will give you ameasure of wine if you are thirsty, as we would give a mug of water, andthe poorest man will not sit down to table without making you an offerto share what he has. Wherever we went we were well received, and inthose poor villages where they had no money to give they would pay usfor our show in kind, one giving us bed, another board, and filling ourwallets ere we left 'em with the best they could afford.

'Twas our habit to walk a few miles before dinner, to sleep in the shadeduring the heat of the day, and to reach a town (if possible) by thefall of the sun. There would we spend half the night in jollity, and lieabed late in the morning. The inns and big houses in these parts arebuilt in the form of squares, enclosing an open court with a sort ofarcade all round, and mostly with a grape-vine running over the sunnierside, and in this space we used to give our performance, by the light ofoil lamps hung here and there conveniently, with the addition, maybe, ofmoonlight reflected from one of the white walls. Here any one was freeto enter, we making no charge, but taking only what they would freelygive. And this treatment engenders a feeling of kindness on both sides(very different to our sentiment at home, where we players as often asnot dread the audience as a kind of enemy, ready to tear us to pieces ifwe fail to please), and ours was as great a pleasure to amuse as theirsto be amused. I can recall to mind nothing of any moment occurring onthis journey, save that we spent some time every day in perfecting ourSpanish dances, I getting to play the tunes correctly, which at first Imade sad bungling of, and Dawson in learning of his steps. Also, he andMoll acquired the use of a kind of clappers, called costagnettes, whichthey play with their hands in these fandangos and boleros, with a verypleasing effect.

At Valencia we stayed a week and three days, lingering more than wasnecessary, in order to see a bull-fight. And this pastime they do not aswe with dogs, but with men, and the bull quite free, and, save for theneedless killing of horses, I think this a very noble exercise, being afair trial of human address against brute force. And 'tis not nearly sobeastly as seeing a prize fought by men, and not more cruel, I take it,than the shooting of birds and hares for sport, seeing that the agony ofdeath is no greater for a sturdy bull than for a timid coney, and haththis advantage, that the bull, when exhausted, is despatched quickly,whereas the bird or hare may just escape capture, to die a miserablelong death with a shattered limb.

From Valencia we travelled five weeks (growing, I think, more lazy everyday), over very hilly country to Alicante, a seaport town very stronglyprotected by a castle on a great rock, armed with guns of brass andiron, so that the pirates dare never venture near. And here I fullythought we were to dawdle away another week at the least, this being avery populous and lively city, promising much entertainment. For Moll,when not playing herself, was mad to see others play, and she did reallygovern, with her subtle wiles and winning smiles, more than her father,for all his masterful spirit, or Don Sanchez with his stern authority.But seeing two or three English ships in the port, the Don deemed itadvisable that we should push on at once for Elche, and, to our greatastonishment, Moll consented to our speedy going without demur, thoughwhy, we could not then discover, but did soon after, as I shallpresently show.

CHAPTER XI.

_Of our first coming to Elche and the strangeness of that city._

Being resolved to our purpose overnight, we set out fairly early in themorning for Elche, which lies half a dozen leagues or thereabouts to thewest of Alicante. Our way lay through gardens of oranges and spreadingvineyards, which flourish exceedingly in this part, being protected fromunkind winds by high mountains against the north and east; and here youshall picture us on the white, dusty road, Moll leading the way a dozenyards in advance, a tambourine slung on her back with streaming ribbonsof many colours, taking two or three steps on one foot, and then two orthree steps on t'other, with a Spanish twist of her hips at each turn,swinging her arms as she claps her costagnettes to the air of a song shehad picked up at Barcelona, and we three men plodding behind, the Donwith a guitar across his back, Dawson with our bundle of clothes, and Iwith a wallet of provisions hanging o' one side and a skin of wine onthe other--and all as white as any millers with the dust of Moll'sdancing.

"It might be as well," says Don Sanchez, in his solemn, deliberatemanner, "if Mistress Moll were advised to practise her steps in ourrear."

"Aye, Senor," replied Dawson, "I've been of the same mind these last tenminutes. But with your consent, Don Sanchez, I'll put her to a moreserious exercise."

The Don consenting with a bow, Jack continues:

"You may have observed that I haven't opened my lips since we left thetown, and the reason thereof is that I've been turning over in my mindwhether, having come thus far, it would not be advisable to let my Mollknow of our project. Because, if she should refuse, the sooner weconsider some other plan, the better, seeing that now she is in goodcase and as careless as a bird on the bough, and she is less tractableto our purposes than when she felt the pinch of hunger and cold andwould have jumped at anything for a bit of comfort."

"Does she not know of our design?" asks the Don, lifting his eyebrows.

"No more than the man in the moon, Senor," answers Jack. "For, thoughKit and I may have discoursed of it at odd times, we have been mightycareful to shut our mouths or talk of a fine day at her approach."

"Very good," says Don Sanchez. "You are her father."

"And she shall know it," says Jack, with resolution, and taking a strideor two in advance he calls to her to give over dancing and come to him.

"Have you forgot your breeding," he asks as she turns and waits for him,"that you have no more respect for your elders than to choke 'em withdust along of your shuffling?"

"What a thoughtless thing am I!" cries she, in a voice of contrition."Why, you're floured as white as a shade!"

Then taking up a corner of her waist-shawl, she gently rubs away thedust from the tip of his nose, so that it stood out glowing red from hisface like a cherry through a hole in a pie-crust, at which she claps herhands and rings out a peal of laughter.

"I counted to make a lady of you, Moll," says Jack, in sorrow, "but Isee plainly you will ever be a fool, and so 'tis to no purpose to speakseriously."

"Surely, father, I have ever been what you wish me to be," answers she,demurely, curious now to know what he would be telling her.

"Then do you put them plaguy clappers away, and listen to me patiently,"says he.

Moll puts her hands behind her, and drawing a long lip and casting roundeyes at us over her shoulder, walks along very slowly by her father'sside, while he broaches the matter to her. And this he did with somedifficulty (for 'tis no easy thing to make a roguish plot lookinnocent), as we could see by his shifting his bundle from one shoulderto the other now and again, scratching his ear and the like; but what hesaid, we, walking a pace or two behind, could not catch, he dropping toa very low tone as if ashamed to hear his own voice. To all he has totell she listens very attentively, but in the end she says somethingwhich causes him to stop dead short and turn upon her gaping like a pig.

"What!" he cries as we came up. "You knew all this two months ago?"

"Yes, father," answers she, primly, "quite two months."

"And pray who told you?" he asks.

"No one, father, since you forbade me to ask questions. But though I maybe dumb to oblige you, I can't be deaf. Kit and you are for evera-talking of it."

"I should be dull indeed if I didn't," answers she. "And if you hadn'tsaid when we saw the ships that we might meet more Englishmen in thetown than we might care to know hereafter, why,--well, maybe we shouldhave been in Alicante now."

"By denying yourself that satisfaction," says Don Sanchez, "we mayconclude that the future we are making for you is not unacceptable."

Moll stopped and says with some passion:

"I would turn back now and go over those mountains the way we came toride through France in my fine gown like a lady."

"Brava! bravamente!" says the Don, in a low voice, as she steps on infront of us, holding her head high with the recollection of her formerstate.

"She was ever like that," whispers Dawson, with pride. "We could neverget her to play a mean part willingly; could we, Kit? She was for everwanting the part of a queen writ for her."

The next day about sundown, coming to a little eminence, Don Sanchezpoints out a dark patch of forest lying betwixt us and the mountains,and says:

"That is Elche, the place where we are to stay some months."

We could make out no houses at all, but he told us the town lay in themiddle of the forest, and added some curious particulars as how, lyingon flat ground and within easy access of the sea, it could not exist atall but for the sufferance of the Spaniards on one side and of theBarbary pirates on the other, how both for their own conveniencerespected it as neutral ground on which each could exchange hismerchandise without let or hindrance from the other, how the sort ofsanctuary thus provided was never violated either by Algerine orSpaniard, but each was free to come and go as he pleased, etc., and thisdid somewhat reassure us, though we had all been more content to see ourdestination on the crest of a high hill.

From this point we came in less than half an hour to Santa Pola, a smallvillage, but very bustling, for here the cart-road from Alicante ends,all transport of commodities betwixt this and Elche being done on mules;so here great commotion of carriers setting down and taking upmerchandise, and the way choked with carts and mules and a very babel oftongues, there being Moors here as well as Spaniards, and all shoutingtheir highest to be the better understood of each other. These were thefirst Moors we had seen, but they did not encourage us with great hopesof more intimate acquaintance, wearing nothing but a kind of long,ragged shirt to their heels, with a hood for their heads in place of ahat, and all mighty foul with grease and dirt.

Being astir betimes the next morning, we reached Elche before midday,and here we seemed to be in another world, for this region is no morelike Spain than Spain is like our own country. Entering the forest, wefound ourselves encompassed on all sides by prodigious high palm trees,which hitherto we had seen only singly here and there, cultivated ascuriosities. And noble trees they are, standing eighty to a hundred feethigh, with never a branch, but only a great spreading crown of leaves,with strings of dates hanging down from their midst. Beneath, in marshyplaces, grew sugar-canes as high as any haystack; and elsewhere werepatches of rice, which grows like corn with us, but thrives well in theshade, curiously watered by artificial streams of water. And for hedgesto their property, these Moors have agaves, with great spiky leaveswhich no man can penetrate, and other strange plants, whereof I willmention only one, they call the fig of Barbary, which is no fig at all,but a thing having large, fleshy leaves, growing one out of the other,with fruit and flower sprouting out of the edges, and all monstrousprickly. To garnish and beautify this formidable defence, nature hadcast over all a network of creeping herbs with most extraordinaryflowers, delightful both to see and smell, but why so prickly, no mancan say.

"Surely, this must be paradise," cries Moll, staying to look around her.

And we were of the same thinking, until we came to the town, which, as Ihave said, lies in the midst of this forest, and then all our hopes andexpectations were dashed to the ground. For we had looked to find a cityin keeping with these surroundings,--of fairy palaces and statelymansions; in place whereof was nought but a wilderness of mean, low,squalid houses, with meandering, ill-paved alleys, and all pasteverything for unsavoury smells,--heaps of refuse lying before everydoor, stark naked brats of children screaming everywhere, and a pack offamished dogs snapping at our heels.

Don Sanchez leads the way, we following, with rueful looks one at theother, till we reach the market-place, and there he takes us into ahouse of entertainment, where a dozen Moors are squatting on theirhaunches in groups about sundry bowls of a smoking mess, calledcuscusson, which is a kind of paste with a little butter in it and astore of spices. Their manner of eating it is simple enough: each mandips his hand in the pot, takes out a handful, and dances it about tillit is fashioned into a ball, and then he eats it with all the gusto inthe world. For our repast we were served with a joint of roast mutton,and this being cut up, we had to take up in our hands and eat like anysavages,--their religion denying these Moors anything but the barenecessities of life. Also, their law forbids the drinking of wine, whichdid most upset Jack Dawson, he having for drink with his meat nothingbut the choice of water and sour milk; but which he liked least I knownot, for he would touch neither, saying he would rather go dry any daythan be poisoned with such liquor.

Whilst we were at our meal, a good many Moors came in to stare at us, asat a raree show, and especially at Moll, whose bright clothes and loosehair excited their curiosity, for their women do rarely go abroad,except they be old, and wear only long dirty white robes, muffling thelower part of their faces. None of them smiled, and it is noticeablethat these people, like our own Don, do never laugh, taking suchdemonstration as a sign of weak understanding and foolishness, butwatching all our actions very intently. And presently an old Moor, witha white beard and more cleanly dressed than the rest, pushing the crowdaside to see what was forward, recognised Don Sanchez, who at once roseto his feet; we, not to be behind him in good manners, rising also.

"May Baba," says the old Moor; and repeating this phrase thrice (whichis a sure sign of hearty welcome), he claps the Don's hand, withoutshaking it, and lays his own upon his breast, the Don doing likewise.Then Don Sanchez, introducing us as we understood by his gestures, theold Moor bends his head gravely, putting his right hand first to hisheart, next to his forehead, and then kissing the two foremost fingerslaid across his lips, we replying as best we could with a bowing andscraping. These formalities concluded, the Don and the old Moor walkapart, and we squat down again to our mutton bones.

After a lengthy discussion the old Moor goes, and Don Sanchez, havingpaid the reckoning, leads us out of the town by many crooked alleys andcross-passages; he speaking never a word, and we asking no questions,but marvelling exceedingly what is to happen next. And, following a walloverhung by great palms, we turn a corner, and find there our old Moorstanding beside an open door with a key in his hand. The old Moor givesthe key into Don Sanchez's hand, and with a very formal salutation,leaves us.

Then following the Don through the doorway, we find ourselves in aspacious garden, but quite wild for neglect; flower and weed and fruitall mingling madly together, but very beautiful to my eye, nevertheless,for the abundance of colour, the richness of the vegetables, and thegraceful forms of the adjacent palms.

A house stood in the midst of this wilderness, and thither Don Sanchezpicked his way, we at his heels still too amazed to speak. Beside thehouse was a well with a little wall about it, and seating himself onthis, Don Sanchez opens his lips for the first time.

"My friend, Sidi ben Ahmed, has offered me the use of this place as longas we choose to stay here," says he. "Go look in the house and tell meif you care to live in it for a year."

CHAPTER XII.

_How Don Sanchez very honestly offers to free us of our bargain if wewill; but we will not._

The house, like nearly all Moorish houses of this class, was simply onelarge and lofty room, with a domed ceiling built of very thick masonry,to resist the heat of the sun. There was neither window nor chimney, thedoor serving to admit light and air, and let out the smoke if a firewere lighted within. One half of this chamber was dug out to a depth ofa couple of feet, for the accommodation of cattle (the litter beingthrown into the hollow as it is needed, and nought removed till itreaches the level of the other floor), and above this, about eight feetfrom the ground and four from the roof, was a kind of shelf (the breadthand length of that half), for the storage of fodder and a sleeping-placefor the inhabitants, with no kind of partition, or any issue for thefoul air from the cattle below.

With that, having finished his inspection of the interior, he goes outand looks at it outside.

"Well," says Don Sanchez, "what think you of the house?"

"Why, Senor, 'tis no worse as I can see than any other in these parts,and hath this advantage, which they have not, of being in a sweet air.With a bit of contrivance we could make a shift to live here wellenough. We should not do amiss neither for furniture, seeing that 'tisthe custom of the country to eat off the floor and sit upon nothing. Apot to cook victuals in is about all we need in that way. But how we areto get anything to cook in it is one mystery, and" (clacking his tongue)"what we are going to drink is another, neither of which I can fathom.For, look you, Senor, if one may judge of men's characters by theirfaces or of their means by their habitations, we may dance our legs offere ever these Moors will bestow a penny piece upon us, and as for theirsour milk, I'd as lief drink hemlock, and liefer. Now, if this town hadbeen as we counted on, like Barcelona, all had gone as merry as amarriage bell, for then might we have gained enough to keep us injollity as long as you please; but here, if we die not of the colicks ina week, 'twill be to perish of starvation in a fortnight. What say you,Kit?"

I was forced to admit that I had never seen a town less likely to afforda subsistence than this.

Then Don Sanchez, having heard us with great patience, and waited aminute to see if we could raise any further objections, answers us inmeasured tones.

"I doubt not," says he, "that with a little ingenuity you may make thehouse habitable and this wilderness agreeable. My friend, Sidi benAhmed, has offered to provide us with what commodities are necessary tothat end. I agree with you that it would be impossible to earn themeanest livelihood here by dancing; it would not be advisable if wecould. For that reason, my knowledge of various tongues making me veryserviceable to Sidi ben Ahmed (who is the most considerable merchant ofthis town), I have accepted an office in his house. This will enable meto keep my engagement with you. You will live at my charge, as Ipromised, and you shall want for nothing in reason. If the Moors drinkno wine themselves, they make excellent for those who will, and youshall not be stinted in that particular."

"Nothing beyond what we came here to do," replies he, with a meaningglance at Moll.

"What!" cries poor Moll, in pain. "We are to dance no more!"

The Don shook his head gravely; and, remembering the jolly, vagabond,careless, adventurous life we had led these past two months and more,with a thousand pleasant incidents of our happy junketings, we were alldowncast at the prospect of living in this place--though a paradise--fora year without change.

"Though I promised you no more than I offer," says the Don, "yet if thisprospect displease you, we will cry quits and part here. Nay," adds he,taking a purse from his pocket, "I will give you the means to return toAlicante, where you may live as better pleases you."

It seemed to me that there was an unfeigned carelessness in his manner,as if he would as lief as not throw up this hazardous enterprise forsome other more sure undertaking. And, indeed, I believe he was thenbalancing another alternative in his mind.

At this generous offer Moll dashed away the tears that had sprung to hereyes, brightening up wonderfully, but then, casting her eyes upon theDon, her face fell again as at the thought of leaving him. For we alladmired him, and she prodigiously, for his great reserve and many goodqualities which commanded respect, and this feeling was tinged in hercase, I believe, with a kind of growing affection.

Seeing this sentiment in her eyes, the Don was clearly touched by it,and so, laying his hand gently on her shoulder, he says:

"My poor child, remember you the ugly old women we saw dancing atBarcelona? They were not more than forty; what will they be like in afew years? Who will tolerate them? who love them? Is that the end youchoose for your own life--that the estate to which our little princessshall fall?"

"No, no, no!" cries she, in a passion, clenching her little hands andthrowing up her head in disdain.

"And no, no, no, say I," cries Dawson. "Were our case ten times as bad,I'd not go back from my word. As it is, we are not to be pitied, and Iwarrant ere long we make ourselves to be envied. Come, Kit, rouse youout of your lethargies, and let us consult how we may improve ourcondition here; and do you, Senor, pray order us a little of that sameexcellent wine you spoke of, if it be but a pint, when you feel disposedthat way."

The Don inclined his head, but lingered, talking to Moll very gravely,and yet tenderly, for some while, Dawson and I going into the house tosee what we could make of it; and then, telling us we should see him nomore till the next day, he left us. But for some time after he was goneMoll sat on the side of the well, very pensive and wistful, as one towhom the future was opened for the first time.

Anon comes a banging at our garden gate, which Moll had closed behindthe Don; and, going to it, we find a Moorish boy with a barrow chargedwith many things. We could not understand a word he said, but Dawsondecided these chattels were sent us by the Don, by perceiving a hugehogskin of wine, for which he thanked God and Don Sanchez an hundredtimes over. So these commodities we carried up to the house, marvellinggreatly at the Don's forethought and generosity, for here were a scoreof things over and above those we had already found ourselves lacking;namely, earthen pipkins and wooden vessels, a bag of charcoal, a box ofcarpenters' tools (which did greatly like Dawson, he having been bred acarpenter in his youth), instruments for gardening (to my pleasure, as Ihave ever had a taste for such employment), some very fine Moorishblankets, etc. So when the barrow was discharged, Dawson gives the ladsome rials out of his pocket, which pleased him also mightily.

Then, first of all, Dawson unties the leg of the hogskin, and draws offa quart of wine, very carefully securing the leg after, and this wedrank to our great refreshment; and next Moll, being awoke from herdreams and eager to be doing, sets herself to sort out our goods, suchas belong to us (as tools, etc.), on one side, and such as belong to her(as pipkins and the rest) on the other. Leaving her to this employment,Dawson and I, armed with a knife and bagging hook, betake ourselves to agreat store of canes stacked in one corner of the garden, and sortingout those most proper to our purpose, we lopped them all of an equallength, and shouldering as many as we could carried them up to ourhouse. Here we found Moll mighty jubilant in having got her work done,and admirably she had done it, to be sure. For, having found a longrecess in the wall, she had brushed it out clean with a whisp of herbs,and stored up her crocks according to their size, very artificial, witha dish of oranges plucked from the tree at our door on one side, and adish of almonds on the other, a pipkin standing betwixt 'em with ahandsome posey of roses in it. She had spread a mat on the floor, andfolded up our fine blankets to serve for cushions; and all that did notbelong to her she had bundled out of sight into that hollowed side Ihave mentioned as being intended for cattle.

After we had sufficiently admired the performance, she told us she had amind to give us a supper of broth. "But," says she, "the Don hasforgotten that we must eat, and hath sent us neither bread nor flesh norsalt."

This put us to a stumble, for how to get these things we knew not; butMoll declared she would get all she needed if we could only find themoney.

"Why, how?" asks Jack. "You know not their gibberish."

"That may be," answers she, "but I warrant the same language that boughtme this petticoat will get us a supper."

So we gave her what money we had, and she went off a-marketing, with asmuch confidence as if she were a born Barbary Moor. Then Jack falls tothanking God for blessing him with such a daughter, at the same timetaking no small credit to himself for having bred her to suchperfection, and in the midst of his encomiums, being down in the hollowsearching for his hammer, he cries:

"Plague take the careless baggage! she has spilled all our nails, andhere's an hour's work to pick 'em up!"

This accident was repaired, however, and Moll's transgression forgottenwhen she returned with an old woman carrying her purchases. Then were weforced to admire her skill in this business, for she had bought all thatwas needful for a couple of meals, and yet had spent but half our money.Now arose the difficult question how to make a fire, and this Jack leftus to settle by our own devices, he returning to his own occupation.Moll resolved we should do our cooking outside the house, so here webuilt up a kind of grate with stones; and, contriving to strike a sparkwith the back of a jack-knife and a stone, upon a heap of dried leaves,we presently blew up a fine flame, and feeding this with the ends ofcane we had cut and some charcoal, we at last got a royal fire on whichto set our pot of mutton. And into this pot we put rice and a multitudeof herbs from the garden, which by the taste we thought might serve tomake a savoury mess. And, indeed, when it began to boil, the odour wasso agreeable that we would have Jack come out to smell it. And he havingpraised it very highly, we in return went in to look at his handiworkand praise that. This we could do very heartily and without hypocrisy,for he had worked well and made a rare good job, having built a veryseemly partition across the room, by nailing of the canesperpendicularly to that kind of floor that hung over the hollowedportion, thus making us now three rooms out of one. At one end he hadleft an opening to enter the cavity below and the floor above by thelittle ladder that stood there, and these canes were set not so closetogether but that air and light could pass betwixt them, and yet fromthe outer side no eye could see within, which was very commodious. Alsoupon the floor above, he had found sundry bundles of soft dried leaves,and these, opened out upon the surface of both chambers, made a verysweet, convenient bed upon which to lie. Then Dawson offering Moll herchoice, she took the upper floor for her chamber, leaving us two thelower; and so, it being near sundown by this time, we to our supper inthe sweet, cool air of evening, all mightily content with one another,and not less satisfied with our stew, which was indeed most savoury andpalatable. This done, we took a turn round our little domain, admiringthe many strange and wonderful things that grew there (especially thefigs, which, though yet green, were wondrous pleasant to eat); and Ilaying out my plans for the morrow, how to get this wilderness intoorder, tear out the worthless herbs, dig the soil, etc., Dawson'sthoughts running on the building of an outhouse for the accommodation ofour wine, tools, and such like, and Moll meditating on dishes to give usfor our repasts. And at length, when these divers subjects were no moreto be discussed, we turned into our dormitories, and fell asleep mightytired, but as happy as princes.

CHAPTER XIII.

_A brief summary of those twelve months we spent at Elche._

The surprising activity with which we attacked our domestic business atElche lasted about two days and a half,--Dawson labouring at his shed, Iat the cultivation of the garden, and Moll quitting her cooking andhousehold affairs, as occasion permitted, to lend a helping hand firstto her father and then to me. And as man, when this fever of enterpriseis upon him, must for ever be seeking to add to his cares, we persuadedDon Sanchez to let us have two she-goats to stall in the shed andconsume our waste herbage, that we might have milk and get butter, whichthey do in these parts by shaking the cream in a skin bag (a method thatseems simple enough till you have been shaking the bag for twentyminutes in vain on a sultry morning) without cost. But the novelty ofthe thing wearing off, our eagerness rapidly subsided, and so about thethird day (as I say), the heat being prodigious, we toiled with nospirit at all.

Dawson was the first to speak his mind. Says he, coming to me whilst Iwas still sweating over my shovel:

"I've done it, but hang me if I do more. There's a good piece of workworth thirty shillings of any man's money, but who'll give me a thank yefor it when we leave here next year?"

And then he can find nothing better to do than fall a-commenting on mylabours, saying there was but precious little to show for my efforts,that had he been in my place he would have ordered matters otherwise,and begun digging t'other end, wagering that I should give up my jobbefore it was quarter done, etc., all which was mighty discouraging andthe more unpleasant because I felt there was a good deal of truth inwhat he said.

Consequently, I felt a certain malicious enjoyment the next morning uponfinding that the goats had burst out one side of his famous shed, andgot loose into the garden, which enabled me to wonder that two suchfeeble creatures could undo such a good thirty shillings' worth of work,etc. But ere I was done galling him, I myself was mortified exceedinglyto find these mischievous brutes had torn up all the plants I had set bythe trees in the shade as worthy of cultivation, which gave Jack achance for jibing at me. But that which embittered us as much asanything was to have Moll holding her sides for laughter at our attemptsto catch these two devilish goats, which to our cost we found were notso feeble, after all; for getting one up in a corner, she raises herselfup on her hind legs and brings her skull down with such a smack on myknee that I truly thought she had broke my cramp-bone, whilst t'other,taking Dawson in the ankles with her horns, as he was reaching forwardto lay hold of her, lay him sprawling in our little stream of water. Nordo I think we should ever have captured them, but that, giving over ourendeavours from sheer fatigue, they of their own accord sauntered intothe shed for shelter from the sun, where Moll clapt to the door uponthem, and set her back against the gap in the side, until her fathercame with a hammer and some stout nails to secure the planks. So for therest of that day Jack and I lay on our backs in the shade, doingnothing, but exceedingly sore one against the other for thesemischances.

But our heart burnings ended not there; for coming in to supper atsundown, Moll has nothing to offer us but dry bread and a dish of dates,which, though it be the common supper of the Moors in this place, waslittle enough to our satisfaction, as Dawson told her in pretty roundterms, asking her what she was good for if not to give us a meal fit forChristians, etc., and stating very explicitly what he would have herprepare for our dinner next day. Moll takes her upbraiding very humbly(which was ever a bad sign), and promises to be more careful of ourcomfort in the future. And so ended that day.

The next morning Dawson and I make no attempt at work, but afterbreakfast, by common accord, stretch us out under the palms to meditate;and there about half past ten, Don Sanchez, coming round to pay us avisit, finds us both sound asleep. A sudden exclamation from him arousedus, and as we stumbled to our feet, staring about us, we perceived Mollcoming from the house, but so disfigured with smuts of charcoal all overher face and hands, we scarce knew her.

"God's mercy!" cries the Don. "What on earth have you been doing,child?"

To which Moll replies with a curtsey:

"I am learning to be a cook-wench, Senor, at my father's desire."

"You are here," answers the Don, with a frown, "to learn to be a lady.If a cook-wench is necessary, you shall have one" (this to us), "andanything else that my means may afford. You will do well to write me alist of your requirements; but observe," adds he, turning on his heel,"we may have to stay here another twelvemonth, if my economies are notsufficient by the end of the first year to take us hence."

This hint brought us to our senses very quickly, and overtaking him erehe reached our garden gate, Dawson and I assured the Don we had no needof any servant, and would be careful that Moll henceforth did no menialoffice; that we would tax his generosity no more than we could help,etc., to our great humiliation when we came to reflect on our conduct.

Thenceforth Dawson charged himself with the internal economy of thehouse, and I with that part which concerned the custody and care of thegoats, the cultivation of pot-herbs and with such instruction of Moll inthe Italian tongue as I could command. But to tell the truth, we neitherof us did one stroke of work beyond what was absolutely necessary, andespecially Dawson, being past everything for indolence, did so order hispart that from having two dishes of flesh a day, we came, ere long, togetting but one mess a week; he forcing himself and us to be contentwith dates and bread for our repasts, rather than give himself thetrouble of boiling a pot. Beyond browsing my goats, drawing their milk(the making of butter I quickly renounced), and watering my garden nightand morn (which is done by throwing water from the little streambroadcast with a shovel on either side), I did no more than Dawson, butjoined him in yawning the day away, for which my sole excuse is thegreat heat of this region, which doth beget most slothful humours inthose matured in cooler climes.

With Moll, however, the case was otherwise; for she, being young and ofan exceeding vivacious, active disposition, must for ever be doing ofsomething, and lucky for us when it was not some mischievous trick atour expense--as letting the goats loose, shaking lemons down on ourheads as we lay asleep beneath it, and the like. Being greatly smittenwith the appearance of the Moorish women (who, though they are notpermitted to wander about at will like our women, are yet suffered tofetch water from the public fountains), she surprised us one morning bycoming forth dressed in their mode. And this dress, which seems to benought but a long sheet wound loosely twice or thrice about the body,buckled on the shoulder, with holes for the arms to be put through inthe manner of the old Greeks, became her surprisingly; and we noticedthen for the first time that her arms were rounder and fuller than whenwe had last seen them bare. Then, to get the graceful, noble bearing ofthe Moors, she practised day after day carrying a pitcher of water onher head as they do, until she could do this with perfect ease andsureness. In this habit the Don, who was mightily pleased with herlooks, took her to the house of his friend and employer, Sidi ben Ahmed,where she ingratiated herself so greatly with the women of his householdthat they would have her come to them again the next day, and after thatthe next,--indeed, thenceforth she spent far more of her time with thesenew friends than with us. And here, from the necessity of making herselfunderstood, together with an excellent memory and a natural aptitude,she learned to speak the Moorish tongue in a marvellously short space oftime. Dawson and I were frequently asked to accompany Moll, and we wenttwice to this house, which, though nothing at all to look at outside,was very magnificently furnished within, and the entertainment mostnoble. But Lord! 'twas the most tedious, wearisome business for us, whocould make out never a word of the civil speeches offered us without theaid of Don Sanchez and Moll, and then could think of no witty response,but could only sit there grinning like Gog and Magog. Still, it gave usvast pleasure to see how Moll carried herself with this company, talkingas freely as they, yet holding herself with the dignity of an equal, anddelighting all by her vivacity and sly, pretty ways.

[Illustration: "SHE PRACTISED DAY AFTER DAY BY CARRYING A PITCHER OFWATER ON HER HEAD."]

I think no country in Europe can be richer than this Elche in fruits andvegetation, more beautiful in its surrounding aspects of plain andmountain, more blessed with constant, glorious sunlight; and the effectof these charms upon the quick, receptive spirit of our Molly was like agentle May upon a nightingale, so that the days were all too short forher enjoyment, and she must need vent her happiness in song; but on usthey made no more impression than on two owls in a tower, nay, ifanything they did add to that weariness which arose from our lack ofoccupation. For here was no contrast in our lives, one day being as likeanother as two peas in a pod, and having no sort of adversities to givesavour to our ease, we found existence the most flat, insipid, dullthing possible. I remember how, on Christmas day, Dawson did cry outagainst the warm sunshine as a thing contrary to nature, wishing hemight stand up to his knees in snow in a whistling wind, and taking upthe crock Moll had filled with roses (which here bloom more fully in thedepth of winter than with us in the height of summer), he flung it outof the door with a curse for an unchristian thing to have in the houseon such a day.

As soon as the year had turned, we began to count the days to ourdeparture, and thenceforth we could think of nought but what we would dowith our fortune when we got it; and, the evenings being long, we wouldset the bag of wine betwixt us after our supper of dates, and sit therefor hours discussing our several projects. Moll being with us (for inthese parts no womankind may be abroad after sundown), she would takepart in these debates with as much gusto as we. For though she was notwearied of her life here as we were, yet she was possessed of a verystirring spirit of adventure, and her quick imagination furnishedendless visions of lively pleasures and sumptuous living. We agreed thatwe would live together, and share everything in common as one family,but not in such an outlandish spot as Chislehurst. That estate we wouldhave nothing to do with; but, selling it at once, have in its place twohouses,--one city house in the Cheap, and a country house not furtherfrom town than Bednal Green, or Clerkenwell at the outside, to the endthat when we were fatigued with the pleasures of the town, we might, byan easy journey, resort to the tranquillity of rural life, Dawsondeclaring what wines he would have laid down in our cellars, I whatbooks should furnish our library, and Moll what dresses she would wear(not less than one for every month of the year), what coaches and horseswe should keep, what liveries our servants should wear, whatentertainments we would give, and so forth. Don Sanchez was not excludedfrom our deliberations; indeed, he encouraged us greatly by approving ofall our plans, only stipulating that we would guard one room for him ineach of our houses, that he might feel at home in our society wheneverhe chanced to be in our neighbourhood. In all these arguments, there wasnever one word of question from any of us as to the honesty of ourdesign. We had settled that, once and for all, before starting on thisexpedition; and since then, little by little, we had come to regard theGodwin estate as a natural gift, as freely to be taken as a blackberryfrom the hedge. Nay, I believe Dawson and I would have contested ourright to it by reason of the pains we were taking to possess it.

And now, being in the month of June, and our year of exile (as it likedus to call it) nigh at an end, Dawson one night put the question to DonSanchez, which had kept us fluttering in painful suspense these past sixmonths, whether he had saved sufficient by his labours, to enable us toreturn to England ere long.

"Yes," says he, gravely, at which we did all heave one long sigh ofrelief, "I learn that a convoy of English ships is about to sail fromAlicante in the beginning of July, and if we are happy enough to find afavourable opportunity, we will certainly embark in one of them."

"Pray, Senor," says I, "what may that opportunity be; for 'tis but twodays' march hence to Alicante, and we may do it with a light foot inone."

"The opportunity I speak of," answers he, "is the arrival, from Algeria,of a company of pirates, whose good service I hope to engage in puttingus aboard an English ship under a flag of truce as redeemed slaves fromBarbary."

"Pirates!" cry we, in a low breath.

"What, Senor!" adds Dawson, "are we to trust ourselves to the mercy andhonesty of Barbary pirates on the open sea?"

"I would rather trust to their honesty," answers the Don, dropping hisvoice that he might not be heard by Moll, who was leading home thegoats, "than to the mercy of an English judge, if we should be broughtto trial with insufficient evidence to support our story."

Jack and I stared at each other aghast at this talk of trial, which hadnever once entered into our reckoning of probabilities.

"If I know aught of my fellow-men," continues the Don, surely and slow,"that grasping steward will not yield up his trust before he has madesearching enquiry into Moll's claim, act she her part never so well. Wecannot refuse to give him the name of the ship that brought us home,and, learning that we embarked at Alicante, jealous suspicion may leadhim to seek further information there; with what result?"

"Why, we may be blown with a vengeance, if he come ferreting so nigh asthat," says Dawson, "and we are like to rot in gaol for our pains."

"You may choose to run that risk; I will not," says the Don.

"Nor I either," says Dawson, "and God forgive me for overlooking such aperil to my Moll. But, do tell me plainly, Senor, granting these piratesbe the most honest thieves in the world, is there no other risk tofear?"

The Don hunched his shoulders.

"Life itself is a game," says he, "in which the meanest stroke may notbe won without some risk; but, played as I direct, the odds are in ourfavour. Picked up at sea from an Algerine boat, who shall deny our storywhen the evidence against us lies there" (laying his hand out towardsthe south), "where no man in England dare venture to seek it?"

"Why, to be sure," says Dawson; "that way all hangs together to anicety. For only a wizard could dream of coming hither for our undoing."

"For the rest," continues the Don, thoughtfully, "there is little tofear. Judith Godwin has eyes the colour of Moll's, and in all else Simonmust expect to find a change since he last saw his master's daughter.They were in Italy three years. That would make Judith a lisping childwhen she left England. He must look to find her altered. Why," adds he,in a more gentle voice, as if moved by some inner feeling of affectionand admiration, nodding towards Moll, "see how she has changed in thislittle while. I should not know her for the raw, half-starved spindle ofa thing she was when I saw her first playing in the barn at TottenhamCross."

Looking at her now (browsing the goats amongst my most cherished herbs),I was struck also by this fact, which, living with her day by day, hadslipped my observation somewhat. She was no longer a gaunt, ungainlychild, but a young woman, well proportioned, with a rounded cheek andchin, brown tinted by the sun, and, to my mind, more beautiful than anyof their vaunted Moorish women. But, indeed, in this country all thingsdo mature quickly; and 'twas less surprising in her case because hergrowth had been checked before by privation and hardship, whereas sinceour coming hither it had been aided by easy circumstances and goodliving.

CHAPTER XIV.

_Of our coming to London (with incidents by the way), and of the greataddress whereby Moll confounds Simon, the steward._

On the third day of July, all things falling in pat with the Don'sdesign, we bade farewell to Elche, Dawson and I with no sort of regret,but Moll in tears at parting from those friends she had grown to lovevery heartily. And these friends would each have her take away somethingfor a keepsake, such as rings to wear on her arms and on her ankles (asis the Moorish fashion), silk shawls, etc., so that she had quite alarge present of finery to carry away; but we had nothing whatever butthe clothes we stood in, and they of the scantiest, being simply longshirts and "bernouses" such as common Moors wear. For the wise Don wouldlet us take nought that might betray our sojourn in Spain, making useven change our boots for wooden sandals, he himself being arrayed nobetter than we. Nor was this the only change insisted on by ourgovernor; for on Dawson bidding Moll in a surly tone to give over ashedding of tears, Don Sanchez turns upon him, and says he:

"It is time to rehearse the parts we are to play. From this day forthyour daughter is Mistress Judith Godwin, you are Captain Robert Evans,and you" (to me), "Mr. Hopkins, the merchant. Let us each play our partwith care, that we do not betray ourselves by a slip in a moment ofunforeseen danger."

"You are in the right, Senor," answers Jack, "for I doubt it must be ahard task to forget that Mistress Judith is my daughter, as it is for aloving father to hold from chiding of his own flesh and blood; so I prayyou, Madam" (to Moll), "bear that in mind and vex me no more."

We lay this lesson seriously to heart, Dawson and I, for the Don's hintthat we might end our career in gaol did still rankle woundily in ourminds. And so very soberly we went out of the forest of Elche in thenight on mules lent us by Sidi ben Ahmed, with a long cavalcade of mulescharged with merchandise for embarking on board the pirates' vessel, andan escort of some half-dozen fierce-looking corsairs armed with longfirelocks and a great store of awesome crooked knives stuck in theirwaist-cloths.

After journeying across the plain, we came about midday to the seaboard,and there we spied, lying in a sheltered bay, a long galley with threemasts, each dressed with a single cross-spar for carrying aleg-of-mutton sail, and on the shore a couple of ship's boats with acompany of men waiting to transport our goods and us aboard. And hereour hearts quaked a bit at the thought of trusting ourselves in thehands of these same murderous-looking pirates. Nevertheless, when ourtime came we got us into their boat, recommending ourselves veryheartily to God's mercy, and so were rowed out to the galley, where wewere very civilly received by an old Moor with a white beard, who seemedwell acquainted with Don Sanchez. Then the merchandise being all aboard,and the anchor up, the men went to their oars, a dozen of each side, androwed us out of the bay until, catching a little wind of air, the sailswere run up, and we put out to sea very bravely.

"Senor," says Dawson, "I know not how I am to play this part of asea-captain when we are sent on board an English ship, for if they askme any questions on this business of navigating, I am done for acertainty."

"Rest easy on that score, Evans," replies the Don. "I will answer foryou, for I see very clearly by your complexion that you will soon bepast answering them yourself."

And this forecast was quickly verified; for ere the galley had dipped adozen times to the waves, poor Dawson was laid low with a most horridsickness like any dying man.

By sundown we sighted the island of Maggiore, and in the roads there wecast anchor for the night, setting sail again at daybreak; and in thislatitude we beat up and down a day and a night without seeing any sail,but on the morning of the third day a fleet of five big ships appearedto the eastward, and shifting our course we bore down upon them withamazing swiftness. Then when we were near enough to the foremast to seeher English flag and the men aboard standing to their deck guns for adefence, our old Moor fires a gun in the air, takes in his sails, andruns up a great white flag for a sign of peace. And now with shrewdhaste a boat was lowered, and we were set in it with a pair of oars, andthe old pirate bidding us farewell in his tongue, clapt on all sail andstood out before the wind, leaving us there to shift for ourselves. DonSanchez took one oar, and I t'other,--Dawson lying in the bottom and notable to move a hand to save his life,--and Moll held the tiller, and sowe pulled with all our force, crying out now and then for fear we shouldnot be seen, till by God's providence we came alongside the Talbot ofLondon, and were presently hoisted aboard without mishap. Then thecaptain of the Talbot and his officers gathering about us were mightycurious to know our story, and Don Sanchez very briefly told how we hadgone in the Red Rose of Bristol to redeem two ladies from slavery; howwe had found but one of these ladies living (at this Moll buries herface in her hands as if stricken with grief); how, on the eve of ourdeparture, some of our crew in a drunken frolic had drowned a Turk ofAlger, for which we were condemned by their court to pay an indemnityfar and away beyond our means; how they then made this a pretext toseize our things, though we were properly furnished with the Duke'spass, and hold our men in bond; and how having plundered us of all wehad, and seeing there was no more to be got, they did offer us ourfreedom for a written quittance of all they had taken for theirjustification if ever they should be brought to court; and finally, how,accepting of these conditions, we were shipped aboard their galley withnothing in the world but a few trifles, begged by Mistress Judith inremembrance of her mother.

This story was accepted without any demur; nay, Captain Ballcock, beingone of those men who must ever appear to know all things, supported itin many doubtful particulars, saying that he remembered the Rose ofBristol quite well; that he himself had seen a whole ship's crew soldinto slavery for no greater offence than breaking a mosque window; thatthe Duke's pass counted for nothing with these Turks; that he knew thegalley we were brought in as well as he knew Paul's Church, havingchased it a dozen times, yet never got within gunshot for her swiftsailing, etc., which did much content us to hear.

But the officers were mighty curious to know what ailed Captain RobertEvans (meaning Dawson), fearing he might be ill of the plague; however,on the Don's vowing that he was only sick of a surfeit, Captain Ballcockdeclared he had guessed it the moment he clapt eyes on him, as hehimself had been taken of the same complaint with only eating a dish ofpease pudding. Nevertheless, he ordered the sick man to be laid in apart of the ship furthest from his quarters, and so great was the dreadof pestilence aboard that (as his sickness continued) not a soul wouldventure near him during the whole voyage except ourselves, which alsofell in very well with our wishes. And so after a fairly prosperousvoyage we came up the Thames to Chatham, the third day of August.

We had been provided with some rough seamen's clothes for our bettercovering on the voyage; but now, being landed, and lodged in the Crowninn at Chatham, Don Sanchez would have the captain take them all back.

"But," says he, "if you will do us yet another favour, Captain, will yousuffer one of your men to carry a letter to Mistress Godwin's steward atChislehurst, that he may come hither to relieve us from our presentstraits?"

"Aye," answers he, "I will take the letter gladly, myself; for nothingpleases me better than a ramble in the country where I was born andbred."

So Moll writes a letter at once to Simon, bidding him come at once toher relief; and Captain Ballcock, after carefully enquiring his way tothis place he knew so well (as he would have us believe), starts offwith it, accompanied by his boatswain, a good-natured kind oflick-spittle, who never failed to back up his captain's assertions,which again was to our great advantage; for Simon would thus learn ourstory from his lips, and find no room to doubt its veracity.

As soon as these two were out of the house, Dawson, who had been carriedfrom the ship and laid in bed, though as hale since we passed theGodwins as ever he was in his life before, sprang up, and declared hewould go to bed no more, for all the fortunes in the world, till he hadsupped on roast pork and onions,--this being a dish he greatly loved,but not to be had at Elche, because the Moors by their religion forbidthe use of swine's flesh,--and seeing him very determined on this head,Don Sanchez ordered a leg of pork to be served in our chamber, whereofDawson did eat such a prodigious quantity, and drank therewith such avast quantity of strong ale (which he protested was the only liquor anEnglishman could drink with any satisfaction), that in the night he wasseized with most severe cramp in his stomach. This gave us the occasionto send for a doctor in the morning, who, learning that Jack had beenill ever since we left Barbary, and not understanding his presentcomplaint, pulled a very long face, and, declaring his case was verycritical, bled him copiously, forbade him to leave his bed for anotherfortnight, and sent him in half a dozen bottles of physic. About middayhe returns, and, finding his patient no better, administers a bolus; andwhile we are all standing about the bed, and Dawson the colour of death,and groaning, betwixt the nausea of the drug he had swallowed and thecramp in his inwards, in comes our Captain Ballcock and the littlesteward.

"There!" cries he, turning on Simon, "did not I tell you that my oldfriend Evans lay at death's door with the treatment he hath received ofthese Barbary pirates? Now will you be putting us off with your doubtsand your questionings? Shall I have up my ship's company to testify tothe truth of my history? Look you, Madam," (to Moll), "we had all thetrouble in the world to make this steward of yours do your bidding; buthe should have come though we had to bring him by the neck and heels,and a pox to him--saving your presence."

"But this is not Simon," says Moll, with a pretty air of innocence. "Iseem to remember Simon a bigger man than he."

"You must consider, Madam," says Don Sanchez, "that then you were verysmall, scarce higher than his waist, maybe, and so you would have tolook up into his face."

"I did not think of that. And are you really Simon, who used to scold mefor plucking fruit?"

"Yea, verily," answers he. "Doubt it not, for thou also hast changedbeyond conception. And so it hath come to pass!" he adds, staring roundat us in our Moorish garb like one bewildered. "And thou art my mistressnow" (turning again to Moll).

"Alas!" says she, bowing her head and covering her eyes with her hand.

"Han't I told you so, unbelieving Jew Quaker!" growls Captain Ballcock,in exasperation. "Why will you plague the unhappy lady with her loss?"

"We will leave Evans to repose," says Moll, brushing her eyes andturning to the door. "You will save his life, Doctor, for he has givenme mine."

The doctor vowed he would, if bleeding and boluses could make him whole,and so, leaving him with poor groaning Dawson, we went into the nextchamber. And there Captain Ballcock was for taking his leave; but Moll,detaining him, says:

"We owe you something more than gratitude--we have put you to muchexpense."

"Nay," cries he. "I will take nought for doing a common act of mercy."

"You shall not be denied the joy of generosity," says she, with a sweetgrace. "But you must suffer me to give your ship's company some token ofmy gratitude." Then turning to Simon with an air of authority, she says,"Simon, I have no money."

The poor man fumbled in his pocket, and bringing out a purse, laid itopen, showing some four or five pieces of silver and one of gold, whichhe hastily covered with his hand.

"I see you have not enough," says Moll, and taking up a pen she quicklywrote some words on a piece of paper, signing it "Judith Godwin." Thenshowing it to Simon, she says, "You will pay this when it is presentedto you," and therewith she folds it and places it in the captain's hand,bidding him farewell in a pretty speech.

"A hundred pounds! a hundred pounds!" gasps Simon, under his breath, inan agony and clutching up his purse to his breast.

"I am astonished," says Moll, returning from the door, and addressingSimon, with a frown upon her brow, "that you are not better furnished tosupply my wants, knowing by my letter how I stand."

"Mistress," replies he, humbly, "here is all I could raise upon suchsudden notice"--laying his purse before her.

"What is this?" cries she, emptying the contents upon the table. "'Tisnothing. Here is barely sufficient to pay for our accommodation in thisinn. Where is the money to discharge my debt to these friends who havelost all in saving me? You were given timely notice of their purpose."

"Prithee, be patient with me, gentle mistress. 'Tis true, I knew oftheir intent, but they were to have returned in six months, and whenthey came not at the end of the year I did truly give up all for lost;and so I made a fresh investment of thy fortune, laying it out all inlife bonds and houses, to great worldly advantage, as thou shalt see ingood time. Ere long I may get in some rents--"

"And in the meanwhile are we to stay in this plight--to beg forcharity?" asks Moll, indignantly. "Nay, mistress. Doubtless for yourpresent wants this kind merchant friend--"

"We have lost all," says I, "Evans his ship, and I the lading in whichall my capital was embarked."

"And I every maravedi I possessed," adds the Don.

"And had they not," cries Moll, "were they possessed now of all theyhad, think you that I with an estate, as I am told, of sixty thousandpounds would add to the debt I owe them by one single penny!"

"If I may speak in your steward's defence, Madam," says I, humbly, "Iwould point out that the richest estate is not always readily convertedinto money. 'Tis like a rich jewel which the owner, though he bestarving, must hold till he find a market."

"With landed property the case is even more difficult. Tenants cannot beforced to pay rent before it is due, nor can their messuages be soldover their heads. And possibly all your capital is invested in land--"

"Every farthing that could be scraped together," says Simon, "and not arood of it but is leased to substantial men. Oh! what excellentdiscourse! Proceed further, friend."

"Nevertheless," says I, "there are means of raising money upon credit.If he live there still, there is a worthy Jew in St. Mary Axe, who uponcertain considerations of interest--"

"Lawyers, attorneys, and usurers! Heaven have mercy upon us! Verily,thee wouldst infest us with a pest, and bleed us to death for our cure."

"I will have such relief as I may," says Moll; "so pray, sir, do sendfor these lawyers and Jews at once, and the quicker, since my servantseems more disposed to hinder than to help me."

"Forbear, mistress; for the love of God, forbear!" cries Simon, in anagony, clasping his hands. "Be not misguided by this foolish merchant,who hath all to gain and nought to lose by this proceeding. Give me buta little space, and their claims shall be met, thy desires shall besatisfied, and yet half of thy estate be saved, which else must be alldevoured betwixt these ruthless money-lenders and lawyers. I can make acovenant more binding than any attorney, as I have proved again andagain, and" (with a gulp) "if money must be raised at once, I know anhonest, a fairly honest, goldsmith in Lombard Street who will lend atthe market rate."

"These gentlemen," answers Moll, turning to us, "may not choose to wait,and I will not incommode them for my own convenience."

"Be reasonable, gentlemen," implores Simon, mopping his eyes, which ranafresh at this demand. "'Tis but some five or six weeks to Michaelmas;surely fifty pounds--"

"Silence!" cries Moll, with an angry tap of her foot. "Will threehundred content you, gentlemen? Consider, the wants of our good friend,Captain Evans, may be more pressing than yours."

"He is a good, honest, simple man, and I think we may answer for hisaccepting the conditions we make for ourselves. Then, with somereasonable guarantee for our future payment--"

"That may be contrived to our common satisfaction, I hope," says Moll,with a gracious smile. "I owe you half my estate; share my house atChislehurst with me till the rest is forthcoming. That will give me yeta little longer the pleasure of your company. And there, sir," turningto me, "you can examine my steward's accounts for your own satisfaction,and counsel me, mayhap, upon the conduct of my affairs, knowing so muchupon matters of business that are incomprehensible to a simple,inexperienced maid. Then, should you find aught amiss in my steward'sbooks, anything to shake your confidence in his management, you will, injustice to your friends, in kindness to me, speak your mind openly, thatinstant reformation may be made."

Don Sanchez and I expressed our agreement to this proposal, and Moll,turning to the poor, unhappy steward, says in her high tone ofauthority:

"You hear how this matter is ordered, Simon. Take up that purse for yourown uses. Go into the town and send such tradesmen hither as may supplyus with proper clothing. Then to your goldsmith in Lombard Street andbring me back six hundred pounds."

"Six--hundred--pounds!" cries he, hardly above his breath, and with apause between each word as if to gain strength to speak 'em.

"Six hundred. Three for these gentlemen and three for my own needs; whenthat is done, hasten to Chislehurst and prepare my house; and, as youvalue my favour, see that nothing is wanting when I come there."

And here, lest it should be thought that Moll could not possibly playher part so admirably in this business, despite the many secretinstructions given by the longheaded Don, I do protest that I have setdown no more than I recollect, and that without exaggeration. Further,it must be observed that in our common experience many things happenwhich would seem incredible but for the evidence of our senses, andwhich no poet would have the hardihood to represent. 'Tis true that inthis, as in other more surprising particulars to follow, Moll didsurpass all common women; but 'tis only such extraordinary persons thatfurnish material for any history. And I will add that anything ispossible to one who hath the element of greatness in her composition,and that it depends merely on the accident of circumstances whether aMoll Dawson becomes a great saint or a great sinner--a blessing or acurse to humanity.

CHAPTER XV.

_Lay our hands on six hundred pounds and quarter ourselves in HurstCourt, but stand in a fair way to be undone by Dawson, his folly._

The next day comes Simon with a bag of six hundred pounds, which hetells over with infinite care, groaning and mopping his eyes betwixteach four or five pieces with a most rueful visage, so that it seemed hewas weeping over this great expenditure, and then he goes to prepare theCourt and get servants against Moll's arrival. By the end of the week,being furnished with suitable clothing and equipment, Moll and DonSanchez leave us, though Dawson was now as hale and hearty as ever hehad been, we being persuaded to rest at Chatham yet another week, togive countenance to Jack's late distemper, and also that we might appearless like a gang of thieves.

Before going, Don Sanchez warned us that very likely Simon would pay usa visit suddenly, to satisfy any doubts that might yet crop up in hissuspicious mind; and so, to be prepared for him, I got in a good storeof paper and books, such as a merchant might require in seeking toreestablish himself in business, and Dawson held himself in readiness todo his share of this knavish business.

Sure enough, about three days after this, the drawer, who had beeninstructed to admit no one to my chamber without my consent, comes up tosay that the little old man in leather, with the weak eyes, would seeme; so I bade him in a high voice bid Mr. Simon step up, and settingmyself before my table of paper, engage in writing a letter (alreadyhalf writ), while Dawson slips out into the next room.

"Take a seat, Mr. Steward," says I, when Simon entered, cap in hand, andcasting a very prying, curious look around. "I must keep you a minute ortwo"; and so I feign to be mighty busy, and give him scope forobservation.

He raised his hands, and dropped them like so much lead on his knees,casting up his eyes and giving a doleful shake of his head for a reply.

"Nothing is amiss at the Court, I pray--your lady Mistress Godwin iswell?"

"I know not, friend," says he. "She hath taken my keys, denied meentrance to her house, and left me no privilege of my office save theuse of the lodge house. Thus am I treated like a faithless servant,after toiling night and day all these years, and for her advantage,rather than mine own."

"That has to be proved, Mr. Steward," says I, severely; "for you mustadmit that up to this present she has had no reason to love you, seeingthat, had her fate been left in your hands, she would now be in Barbary,and like to end her days there. How, then, can she think but that youhad some selfish, wicked end in denying her the service we, who arestrangers, have rendered her?"

"We will say no more on that head, but you may rest assured on mypromise--knowing as I do the noble, generous nature of yourmistress--that if she has done you wrong in suspecting you of basepurpose, she will be the first to admit her fault and offer youreparation."

"I seek no reparation, no reward, nothing in the world but the right tocherish this estate," cries he, in passion; and, upon my looking at himvery curiously, as not understanding the motive of such devotion, hecontinues: "Thee canst not believe me, and yet truly I am neither a liarnor a madman. What do others toil for? A wife--children--friends--thegratification of ambition or lust! I have no kith or kin, no ambition,no lust; but this estate is wife, child, everything, to me. 'Tis likesome work of vanity,--a carved image that a man may give his whole lifeto making, and yet die content if he achieves but some approach to thecreation of his soul. I have made this estate out of nothing; it hathgrown larger and larger, richer and more rich, in answer to my skill;why should I not love it, and put my whole heart in the accomplishmentof my design, with the same devotion that you admire in the maker ofgraven images?"

Despite his natural infirmities, Simon delivered this astonishingrhapsody with a certain sort of vehemence that made it eloquent; andindeed, strange as his passion was, I could not deny that it was asreasonable in its way as any nobler act of self-sacrifice.

"I begin to understand you, Mr. Steward," says I.

"Then, good friend, as thee wouldst help the man in peril of being tornfrom his child, render me this estate to govern; save it from the handsof usurers and lawyers, men of no conscience, to whom this Spanish Donwould deliver it for the speedy satisfaction of his greed."

"Thee shalt be paid to the last farthing. Examine my books, enquire intothe value of my securities, and thee wilt find full assurance."

"Well, one of these days mayhap," says I, as if to put him off.

"Nay, come at once, I implore thee; for until I am justified to mymistress, I stand like one betwixt life and death."

"For one thing," says I, still shuffling, "I can do nothing, nor youeither, to the payment of our just claim, before the inheritance issafely settled upon Mistress Godwin."

"That shall be done forthwith. I understand the intricacies of the law,and know my way" (tapping his head and then his pocket), "to get a seal,with ten times the despatch of any attorney. I promise by Saturday theeshalt have assurance to thy utmost requirement. Say, good friend, theewilt be at my lodge house on that day."

"Aye," says Dawson, coming in from the next room, in his nightgown,seeming very feeble and weak despite his blustering voice, "and I'm liketo be no better till I can get a ship of my own and be to sea again.Have you brought my money, Mr. Quaker?"

"Thee shalt have it truly; wait but a little while, good friend, alittle while."

"Wait a little while and founder altogether, eh? I know you land sharks,and would I'd been born with a smack of your cunning; then had I nevergone of this venture, and lost my ship and twoscore men, that money'llne'er replace. Look at me, a sheer hulk and no more, and all throughlending ear to one prayer and another. I doubt you're minded to turnyour back on poor old Bob Evans, as t'others have, Mr. Hopkins,--and whynot? The poor old man's worth nothing, and cannot help himself." Withthis he fell a-snivelling like any girl.

"I vow I'll not quit you, Evans, till you're hale again."

"Bring him with thee o' Saturday," urged Simon. "Surely, my mistress cannever have the heart to refuse you shelter at the Court, who owes herlife to ye. Come and stay there till thy wage be paid, friend Evans."

"What! would ye make an honest sailor play bum-bailiff, and stick in ahouse, willy nilly, till money's found? Plague of your dry land! Give mea pitching ship and a rolling sea, and a gale whistling in my shrouds.Oh, my reins, my reins! give me a paper of tobacco, Mr. Hopkins, and apipe to soothe this agony, or I shall grow desperate!"

I left the room as if to satisfy this desire, and Simon followed,imploring me still to come on Saturday to Chislehurst; and I at lengthgot rid of him by promising to come as soon as Evans could be left orinduced to accompany me.

I persuaded Dawson, very much against his gree, to delay our going untilMonday, the better to hoodwink old Simon; and on that day we set out forChislehurst, both clad according to our condition,--he in rough frieze,and I in a very proper, seemly sort of cloth,--and with more guineas inour pockets than ever before we had possessed shillings. And a verymerry journey this was; for Dawson, finding himself once more atliberty, and hearty as a lark after his long confinement and under noconstraint, was like a boy let loose from school. Carolling at the topof his voice, playing mad pranks with all who passed us on the road, andstaying at every inn to drink twopenny ale, so that I feared he wouldcertainly fall ill of drinking, as he had before of eating; but theexercise of riding, the fresh, wholesome air, and half an hour's doze ina spinney, did settle his liquor, and so he reached Hurst Court quitesober, thanks be to Heaven, though very gay. And there we had need ofall our self-command, to conceal our joy in finding those gates open tous, which we had looked through so fondly when we were last here, and tospy Moll, in a stately gown, on the fine terrace before this noblehouse, carrying herself as if she had lived here all her life, and DonSanchez walking very deferential by her side. Especially Dawson couldscarce bring himself to speak to her in an uncouth, surly manner, asbefitted his character, and no sooner were we entered the house but hewhips Moll behind a door, and falls a-hugging and kissing her like anysly young lover.

Whilst he was giving way to these extravagances, which Moll had not theheart to rebuff,--for in her full, warm heart she was as overjoyed tosee him there as he her,--Don Sanchez and I paced up and down thespacious hall, I all of a twitter lest one or other of the servantsmight discover the familiarity of these two (which must have been a finematter for curious gossip in the household and elsewhere), and the Donmighty sombre and grave (as foreseeing an evil outcome of thisbusiness), so that he would make no answer to my civilities save by dumbgestures, showing he was highly displeased. But truly 'twas enough toset us all crazy, but he, with joy, to be in possession of all theseriches and think that we had landed at Chatham scarce a fortnight beforewithout decent clothes to our backs, and now, but for the success of ourdesign, might be the penniless strolling vagabonds we were when DonSanchez lighted on us.

Presently Moll came out from the side room with her father, her hair alltumbled, and as rosy as a peach, and she would have us visit the housefrom top to bottom, showing us the rooms set apart for us, her ownchamber, the state room, the dining-hall, the store closets for plateand linen, etc., all prodigious fine and in most excellent condition;for the scrupulous minute care of old Simon had suffered nothing to fallout of repair, the rooms being kept well aired, the pictures,tapestries, and magnificent furniture all preserved fresh with linencovers and the like. From the hall she led us out on to the terrace tosurvey the park and the gardens about the house, and here, as withindoors, all was in most admirable keeping, with no wild growth orrunaweeds anywhere, nor any sign of neglect. But I observed, as anindication of the steward's thrifty, unpoetic mind, that the garden bedswere planted with onions and such marketable produce, in place offlowers, and that instead of deer grazing upon the green slopes of thepark there was only such profitable cattle as sheep, cows, etc. And atthe sight of all this abundance of good things (and especially thewell-stored buttery), Dawson declared he could live here all his lifeand never worry. And with that, all unthinkingly, he lays his arm aboutMoll's waist.

Then the Don, who had followed us up and down stairs, speaking never oneword till this, says, "We may count ourselves lucky, Captain Evans, ifwe are suffered to stay here another week."

CHAPTER XVI.

_Prosper as well as any thieves may; but Dawson greatly tormented._

The next morning I went to Simon at his lodge house, having writ him anote overnight to prepare him for my visit, and there I found him, withall his books and papers ready for my examination. So to it we set,casting up figures, comparing accounts, and so forth, best part of theday, and in the end I came away convinced that he was the mostscrupulous, honest steward ever man had. And, truly, it appeared that byhis prudent investments and careful management he had trebled the valueof the estate, and more, in the last ten years. He showed me, also, thatin all his valuations he had set off a large sum for loss by accident offire, war, etc., so that actually at the present moment the estate,which he reckoned at seventy-five thousand pounds, was worth at theleast one hundred and twenty-five thousand. But for better assurance onthis head, I spent the remainder of the week in visiting the farms,messuages, etc., on his rent roll, and found them all in excellentcondition, and held by good substantial men, nothing in any particularbut what he represented it.

Reporting on these matters privily to Don Sanchez and Dawson, I askedthe Don what we should now be doing.

"Two ways lie before us," says he, lighting a cigarro. "Put Simon out ofhis house--and make an enemy of him," adds he, betwixt two puffs ofsmoke, "seize his securities, sell them for what they will fetch, andget out of the country as quickly as possible. If the securities beworth one hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds, we may" (puff)"possibly" (puff) "get forty thousand for them" (puff), "about a thirdof their value--not more. That yields us ten thousand apiece. On tenthousand pounds a man may live like a prince--in Spain. The other way isto make a friend of Simon by restoring him to his office, suffer him totreble the worth of the estate again in the next ten years, and livelike kings" (puff) "in England."

"Pray, which way do you incline, Senor?" says I.

"Being a Spaniard," answers he, gravely, "I should prefer to live like aprince in Spain."

"That would not I," says Dawson, stoutly. "A year and a half of Elchehave cured me of all fondness for foreign parts. Besides, 'tis abeggarly, scurvy thing to fly one's country, as if we had done someunhandsome, dishonest trick. If I faced an Englishman, I should neverdare look him straight in the eyes again. What say you, Mr. Hopkins?"

"Why, Evans," says I, "you know my will without telling. I will not, ofmy own accord, go from your choice, which way you will."

"Since we owe everything to Mistress Judith," observes the Don, "and asshe is no longer a child, ought not her wishes to be consulted?"

"No," says Jack, very decidedly, and then, lowering his voice, he adds,"for was she Judith Godwin ten times told, and as old as my grandmotherinto the bargain, she is still my daughter, and shall do as I choose herto do. And if, as you say, we owe her everything, then I count 'twouldbe a mean, dirty return to make her live out of England and feel she hasa sneaking coward for a father."